He refers to the ill-founded arguments and muddled thinking of those in power, hence this morning's "Muddled Brexit" headlines.

And then there is this: "We do not yet know what the Government will set as negotiating objectives for the UK's relationship with the EU after exit. There is much we will not know until later this year about the political shape of the EU itself."

To some this is a horrifying admission that the Government even in private has no clue what it wants out of those negotiations.

To others it is a realistic assessment. Until French and German elections are out of the way, those objectives need to remain fluid.

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He also points out that "serious multilateral negotiating experience is in short supply in Whitehall and that is not the case in the Commission or in the Council".

The picture he paints is not reassuring just a few months before negotiations begin on Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

He has deserted his team ahead of kick-off and laid out in black and white some of the weaknesses of its negotiating position.